China’s growing influence confronts the world with a secrecy seen as a fact of life at home

The most important moment in the life of China’s Communist Party, the coming-out parade of its top leaders, is the culmination of a process steeped in mystery.

What has gone before the red-carpet walk of the new Politburo Standing Committee, led by Xi Jinping, is anyone’s guess. None of the men at the apex of power are elected by popular vote. Just about everything known about them is filtered through state propaganda.

Ahead...

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